Records supplied by an organization called Help Eliminate Auto Thefts (HEAT) show criminal activity continues to increase in Macomb County but the number of auto thefts has decreased due to more police action and more sophisticated vehicle ignitions and keys.

In 2012, Warren, Macomb County’s largest community, had 95 cases assigned to MATS. In comparison, Sterling Heights, Macomb’s second largest community, had 21 cases, the statistics show

Lt. Mark Oermann, MATS commander, said vehicle manufacturers are using new ignition devices which make starting and driving away vehicles more difficult if not impossible. He said at one time the Dodge Caravan and older Dodge and Chrysler models such as the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Liberty were easy to steal and thieves knew it.

But back in 1986 General Motors started putting chips in vehicle keys and then chips in the ignition. If both chips didn’t match, the vehicle wouldn’t start no matter what the thief did.

Ford Motor Co. started adding a computer chip in 1996. With Chrysler, the computer chip was an option for a long time and many new car buyers decided against spending the extra money feeling the insurance company would reimburse them if their vehicle was stolen.

“As the older cars are sent to the scrap yard, car thefts are going down,” Oermann said. “In the past, all you needed was a way to get into the car and a screw driver. It’s a lot different with the newer vehicles.

“The thieves are getting smart and don’t even try to steal the newer cars.”

Oermann said all car service centers alert police when a key is cut for a particular vehicle.

MATS officers say 95 percent of the vehicles stolen in Macomb County head across the Eight Mile Road southern border into Detroit. There the autos are dismantled and sold for parts.

Others are driven down south where they are stolen with altered vehicle identification numbers.

Almost all Macomb County police agencies have a policy of not chasing car thieves into Detroit.

Detective Lee Delor said he is swamped with cases originating out of Clinton Township. He said police are busy investigating vehicle-related crimes out of Michigan’s most-populated township.

He said one of the main reasons is many apartment complexes and condominiums dot the township’s landscape. Delor also said Clinton Township has many shopping malls, including Partridge Creek on M-59 near Romeo Plank, many new and used car lots on Gratiot Avenue, a large hospital in Henry Ford Macomb on 19 Mile Road and small factories on Groesbeck Highway.

“Clinton Township is a large community,” Delor said. “We investigate auto thefts and anything that is stolen from vehicles.”

His boss, Oermann, said if a vehicle is stolen in Clinton Township Delor gets it.

Police said fraud is as big a crime as stolen cars. Oermann said people often report their cars stolen to collect the insurance money.

Oermann said people should never buy a car on a weekend, especially on Craig’s List. He said Secretary of State offices are closed on the weekend and the signing of all car sales papers should be done there.

“People who are victims of a fraud usually buy a car on a Friday night or Saturday or Sunday,” Oermann said. “If you decide to register a vehicle after you give the seller the money, often it is too late and the vehicle’s title is no good and you are stuck with a stolen vehicle.”

MATS Office Deputy Dave Willis said there are several places a vehicle identification number is placed, including under the front windshield under the glass, and on the driver’s side door wall. Willis said if the VIN number has been tampered with, stay away from buying it.

Warren and St. Clair Shores are hot spots in recent weeks in the car theft category, according to MATS officers. In one month the Shores had 70 car thefts.

Thieves are experts in using a small saw to remove the catalytic converter which they sell at a junk yard for $30 for scrap metal. Thieves also steam tires and rims.

Oermann said MATS officers track and document dates, times and location of vehicle thefts. He said it allows officers to predict the most likely time and place a theft will occur.

But he said people have to help themselves to not be a victim of a vehicle theft.

Number one, Oermann said, keep your vehicle doors locked and keep the keys with you or in a safe location in the house. He said never leave valuable items in plain view.

“If you park outside, put valuables in your house before you go out,” Oermann said. “Also, if you are driving a car put valuables in the trunk but don’t do it in plain view of everyone when you pull into a shopping center parking lot.”

At home, park in the garage or well lighted area next to your house. Thieves love to steal tires, rims and wheels and can take them to unscrupulous pawn shops for a few quick dollars.

In 2009, MATS officers worked on 636 cases, county records indicate. The following year they has 480 cases, Oermann said.

In 2011 MATS officers investigated 478 cases and last year they have 495 cases.

In 209 MATS recovered 190 stolen vehicles and another 174 in 2010. The undercover unit recovered 236 vehicles in 2011 and 212 last year.

MATS officers made 324 arrests in 2009 and 255 in 2010. In 2011 234 people were arrested by the MATS unit and 228 last year.

In 2012 there were 1,535 vehicles stolen in Macomb County. So far this year 555 vehicles were reported stolen.

Oermann said summer is just approaching and that is the time when most vehicles are stolen.

“We recovered $1.8 million in vehicle parts last year,” Oermann said. “The biggest year recently was in 2010 when our officers recovered $1.9 million in vehicle parts.”

MATS receives funding from the Michigan Automobile Theft Prevention Authority. It is funded by an annual $1 assessment on each insured non-commercial passenger vehicle.